VOA标准英语2010年-Lorber Revisits Fusion Moniker on 'Now

The name says it all - Jeff Lorber Fusion¹.  Keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber brings back his old Fusion moniker for an album reminiscent of his very first band.

For the past 20 years, he's been known simply as Jeff Lorber, so it was just a matter of time before the Jeff Lorber Fusion made its return.  And, as the title of their new album suggests, Now Is The Time.

Lorber has not only returned to the name that made him famous, but he's brought back his original blend of jazz, rock, funk and R&B that put him at the forefront of the fusion scene more than 30 years ago.  Lorber says, at the time, fusion was a label given to groups that defied the usual musical categories.

Jazz keyboardist and composer Jeff Lorber

"When I started my band I was just working in the club scene in Portland, Oregon where I used to live," explains Lorber.  "And, they used to have a lot of rock bands and country rock bands and stuff like that up there in Portland.  So, I called my band the Jeff Lorber Fusion just to let people know what they were in for if they're going to come down and hear us play."

Some of the tunes² on Now Is The Time were updated from the Jeff Lorber Fusion catalogue.  One exception is "Mysterious Traveler" by the groundbreaking jazz fusion group Weather Report.

Jeff Lorber's 'Now Is The Time' CD

"When I first heard it I was so taken with it," he says.  "And, you listen to it now and it's still a pretty astounding³ level of creativity between [Weather Report's] Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter in terms of their approach to harmony and melody, besides the orchestration and studio techniques, they really, really were pushing the boundaries in a way that still sounds amazingly fresh."

The latest incarnation of the Jeff Lorber Fusion features a handful of today's best and brightest jazz players, including trumpeter Randy Brecker, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassist Jimmy Haslip, guitarist Paul Jackson, Junior, and drummers Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta.  Vocalist Irene B appears on four selections.

Although Jeff Lorber's forte⁴ in recent years has been producing and performing "smooth" jazz, his latest album stands to draw new fans. 

"It represents a real musical shift toward something a little jazzier and a little more exciting," he says.
 

1 fusion   

n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc. 黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• This alloy is formed by the fusion of two types of metal.这种合金是用两种金属熔合而成的。

2 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 forte   

n.长处，擅长；adj.(音乐)强音的

参考例句：

• Her forte is playing the piano.她擅长弹钢琴。
• His forte is to show people around in the company.他最拿手的就是向大家介绍公司。